Starting device for internal-combustion engines.



S. A. MYERS. STARTING DEVICE POR INTERNAL comms-HON BNQINBS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 19144 3 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

l. g www@ www A I lll/.Al Il!! I w I@ S. A. MYERS.

Ei. NAL COME USTIN ENGINES.

STARTING DEVICE POR INT .Patented NOV. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS--IIEET 3.

FAW

To all whom t may ers en iiied neeoy being in positiefs.

Be it known that i, l, e e en enz-iii: nl Crank the Citizen of the United l die imoiienieii nf said iastmenonsf ei' Joplin, in the Connjf l frein tile pnsitionshow'n fin Eig. 5 of Missouri, have invene he position show/n in ig. l; Fig; 3?- sf view." 5kg Y Useful Improvements in @ing @ei n- Central inngiudinai Vertcai Section, for Internal-Combustion E 4 i le; nnl l' d@ teken through the center of the penes shew I hereby dechire ithatthe i" is s :fullE r" l L, und showing the paris as Vclem', and exam description neizenf 'eerth' the starte? Shaf l l` encebeing had te the aeeonw -J aww y' 1' pestionfeni ings, and to the eteis of eeienne j l mechanism in suehpsf thereon, which forni peiof e einen; of the bc'fxtC-m raak tion. `hewn in FigB- ieg -iie;y

This invention rein I inni: ig. .2 will throw -hemein able stai-ting' devices ,.rtartex'siia; inte 7e. tien engines, Y il ceniam haiif The inineipei object e? f xi-aken on of t0 provide :i simple, eeennr-l tien of'iiie eiiow, an'; starting iex'iee for in" ineinbefs i i elutci-` engines. he main l weine movement from; f is PL, h 1

.nelly to be @they and fn u l will appear 5in i r e 5 of Figl 3 leaking drawings undii'ei "e arrow, and snowing 85 tion anf claims. y l supported by 'the 1 The 'invention Censis-LQ f l l l g mi with isha-main' combinations, en; ing e sie-finer-sh.s,fi:-,;1 'herein described :ir n eintchingf @man members In the. :inwinnen f *he if @HX im* 'M l L i v is. a pian View 0* gffths seineed in eene nrwise and improveniente, J im' using in hariw 40 ing the rotary puwl and fe'qh rotating sziiww 1.5, a transverseifeirt l'cranking' N engine; on line Soi: Eig'i tional view, teken ing inthe 'er; ing the. eezitzs starter shaft' ani znechmiisrn and heisoper in eevation Witii'ai oi' the 5e tion which 'they wenid'* stnrteisheft is iin-s mov into position bring tie e the .starilei'shaft im@ ce. L with the clutch nien er esat'one extremity of its movement; and Fig.l

-- 8, a View in elevation of a portion o f a motor vehicle provided with an engine starting device constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements. n fIn constructmg an-eng1nestart1ng device `in accordance with my invention and im-v '.the stationary tube or casing b and adaptedV isi longitudinalside framemembers or braces d.

The side frame members or braces d herev provements,- I provide a starter shaft a. which is rotatably' mounted. in a suitable support com risinga stationary, preferably tubular, casi part of as ationaryv -frame comprising a transverseframe 'memberc and 'oblique or shown are connectedl-t one end of the de Vice by means of 4an integral transverse frame portion e con'nected wath one end of 'to form a support for the latter, and are con; nected at their opposite ends by meansr'of screws f or other suitable securing means with the transverse. frame member 0 1 The stationary 'tube or casing and the stationary frame members connected therewith thus form a rigid frame adapted to be secured lto the main frame of a vehicle by .means oa suppcrting bracket or frameportion g, as indicated in Fig. 8, or by any desired ordinary and well known securing "means, The starter shaft. a' is provided with va seriespf elongated peripheral ratchet'teeth L, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. These eripheral ratchet teeth may be and are, y

preference, integral with the. shaft `and ofsuflicient length -so that the longitudinal movement of the starter' shaft, which is such a manner that the necessary in .order to throw the main clutch member on the starter shaft into and out ot clutching engagement with the clutch member on the engine shaft, may take place iu pawls t' for operating the ratchet 4and-there may remain constantly in operative engagement with the ratchet teeth h.' The pawls.

z' for engaging and operating the ratchet teeth h and-thereby the starter lshaft a are mounted on the inside of the outer stationary -tube'b in a suitable'rotary tubular support4 comprising an inner tube 7c which encircles the shaft, and a main helix or helically grooved tubular member Z which encircles the inner tube 7c. The adjacent ends of the tubular memberslk and Z at the inner end of the l shaft a are secured in rigid relation to each otherby means of a cap, bearing member or head m having anrinner annular Harige portion n interposed between the inner ends of said tubularmembers yand adapted to hold the latter in concentric relation to each other, and in concentric rela-tion to the outerstationary tubular member b and the shaft a. The head orend cap m is provided with g b, mounted in or forming-a'.

y-the starter shaft suitable socket' or recess p in ythe end cap or head g, which latter forms the 'closure for one endof the outer. stationary casing or tubular member The stationary head l]- tion r which, by preference, extends through a suitable opening in the transverse stationary framemember e.' And a threaded bear- ,is provided with an endwise' projecting poring. pin or screw s mountedin threaded engagement with the stationaryhead or member g, forms a suitable endy bearing for the 'trunnion or bearing portion o of the head m, and alock nut t serves to hold the bearing pin orscrews in position. The outer casing'or tubular member b is secured to the head gby means of screws ucr other ordinary suitable securinv means. A cap or collar lu encircles the shaft a at the opposite end ofthe inner tubular members k and Z and is removably secured in xed relation to the 4rotaryV tubular nember Z by means of studs cr'pins w, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or by other suitable securing means; A stationary collar 1/ encircles the shaft a on the outside of the collar v and 'is secured rigid relation'to the end of the tube-'7) by means of screws z, said collar y being! provided with a suitable annular groove or'ball race 2 into which projects an annular flange portion 3 of the-collar fv, said groove 2 and-Harige portion 3 being adapted to form therebe# tween a ball ra'cln 1n which vare located' hardened steel `balls-4 which form a ball bearing between thecollars y and lv.'- From the foregoing it will be seen that th tubularmembers c and Z are 'prevented from moving endwise and are rotatably supported between the stationary bearing or head q at one' end of the device and the collar or cap at the other end, and that a rotary tubular frame or'support for the pawls i is thus provided which is, adapted to operate the pawls i when the tubular frame or helically grooved member Z and 'tube [c are rotated. together. The pawls z' above mentioned are pivotally supported in suitable poclets or sockets 5 in the enlarged end ortion 6 of the inner tubular member k an are held vin position to operatively engage the ratchet teeth. 7;',already described, by means of the end collar or head c which forms a closure for' the lspirally groovedtube Z and inner tube 7c and rigldly connects the ends of the tubnlarmembers c and Z within which .the

pawls 1I are mounted.. The pawls are'thus constantly in position -to engage theratchet teeth h to the shaft a as already suggested.

The pawls z are -yieldin'gly .held in engagement with the Vratchet teeth It by means of compressible springs 7, shown in Fig. 6, saidv springsbeing held in place? by the tubular member 'Z which is providedwith suitable 'apertures--orY` containing;y saidspring/Land Q13".

for holding them in operative engagement. v1permit the movement of the outer in sup- (See 6.) porting sleeve or frame l0 longitudinally of In' or er to provide suitable means for the casing b from one extremity to the other rotating the tubular members Z and -Zc andV of the spiral or helical groove 8 in the ro- 5 thereby operating the pawlsz' to 'rotate the tary helix or helically grooved tube Z, and 7e shaft a, the member Z is provided with opin the longitudinal groove 9 in the outer i posite peripheral i helical or spiral grooves` tube or casing b, and that the Vmovement of or slots S, and the stationary outer tube or the ngers With the linger supporting frame casing .member o is provided With longitndior sleeve l0 will cause the tubular member Z 1Q nelly disposed, preferably straight grooves to rotate upon the bearing o at one endend 75 or slots 9, which extend from end to end the ball bearings 4 at the opposite-end of of the helical or spiral slots 8. A sleeve the rotary'tnbular structure comprising the or sliding frame l0 is mounted upon or in connected tubular members c and Z. The position to encircle the stationary outer tnbe helical grooves 8 are, by preference, of such 15 b and is adapted to slide longitudinally of a pitch and so disposed that the movement so' the latter when operated by the main opof the fingers or pins 12 from end to end* ernting lever ll hereinafter morev `particnof the grooves 8 will cause the helically larly described. Upon this sliding frame grooved tube Z with'the pavvls 0' to', make or sleeve are mounted inwardly projecting approximately one-half of arevolution, or'. i

20 lingers, each of which, by preference, commore, if Yfound desirable in practice, or, 85 prises a threaded pin or screw l2 mounted in other Words, Will cause the starter vshaft l in threaded engagement With the sleeve l0 .fr to rotate approximately one-ha1f of a revand having a non-threaded inner end por elution 'or snfiiciently to crank the engine or tion lfvvhich projects into the correspondcompress a charge of combustible fluid con@ g'g. ing slot or groove 9 and spiral or helical tained in the engine cvlinder and bringthe 904 groove 8. An anti-friction sleeve le? upon engine pistons into the proper position 'for' each pin or linger l2 is adapted to enga-ge ignition of the charge or for starting,`in`L Wa ls o the corresponding groove 9 in one direction. It is desirable to provide Lationay member Z2, and a similar entimeans whereby the shaft a and the clutch" v.

tion sleeve l5 for eachpin lZis S-.daptmember supported 'thereby Will be moved `95 o engage the Walls of the corresponding, endwise into clutching' position during the f ielce'l or spiral groove 8, into which movement of theoperatinglever 1l and the,v i

*"ooves said lingers end sleeves extend. slide or helix-operating lingers l2 in an opl*V D helical or spiral grooves il and the lonposite direction from that in which said le'- gg'; gitndinal grooves 9 are so disposed With rerer, slide and helix-operating fingers are'lo lation to each other that the inwardly romoved in operating the pawls z' to turn the y jecting fingers or bossescomprising thev pin starter shaft o and thereby the engine shaft. l2 and sleeves ll and l5 are adapted to AIt 1s also desirable that the device be capa@ move from end. to end of said grooves in ble of enabling the cranking or starting of e such a manner that the movement of the the engine or the compression of the charge 105 lingers from the position shown in Fig. 4 to be accomplished bya continuous stroke the direction of the position in or movement of the operating ever l1 and f` are shown in Fig. l will cerise the helix-operating fingers l2.

c .ed tubular members Z and and The main operating lever, is, by preferl,

he pavvls is ratchet teeth jifand ence, pivotally connected at one end Withf f shaft o to rotate in the direction of the free" end 'of a link 16 by means of as indicated'in F 4f, and the pivot 17' (see Figs. 4 and '6), the opposite'A ent of the fingers in the opposite diend of the link being pivotallyV conne'etedA longitudinally the casing b or with a support-such `asa hinge member 1S,

1' position indicated in Fig. l to said hinge memberbei'ng secured to-the non- 115 ir which the are shownA rotatable. Jr'ranie comprising part-sc and JZ,

will canse the main helically or other f's'iitable support, b y means of fnlar member Z and the tube Zc screws ffalready'described, or byv any dez' to rotate in the oppositedirecsired, ordinary and Well known means. The

.- indicated by the arrow in operating lever 1l is operatively connected" 32o ithont rotating the shaft, as with thesliding sleeve l0 and thereby with eeth are inclined so as to permit the inwardly projecting pins l2 by means ioni oil ineieinenl or the pawl in the ot a yole or frame member 20, the opposite .lends of which are provided With suitable @o openings through which lateral bosses 2l 125 2".: on thesleeve l0 extend, the bosses Qlbeing f entend pins lz. be loosely' provided With threaded openings through Y .nenn i upon seid "pins, and the in-. which thepins l2 extend, as shown in Fig. ner r member Il is adapted 'to revent l. The yoke or frame member 20 is pivotthe. sl 'rr-ein coming oli" the pins nd to' ally connected with lhe Amail/1 operating le- 3.3@

ver 11 by meansof a'pivot 22, shown in -Figs.-3, 4 and 6, said yoke or Uishaped frame member being bentl into or constructed in such form that it partially encircles the' outer tube, or casing b and extends from the. points of connectlon with the sliding sleeve 10 or finger 12 in the direction of the end .of the casing b 'toward which the sleeve 10 and fingers or pins 12 'are moved by the lever 11 in the operation of rotating the shaftfa, byl means ofA thevpa-vvlspi and the ratchet engaged thereby. l

It 'is desirable, as already suggested, to

y provide means whereby the starter shaftticlutching engagement with the' mating main'v may be movedA endwise from 4the .position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig.,

4. so as to bring the clutch member 23 into clutch member 2l on the engine shaft, .as shown in Fig. L1, and adapted to permit the endwise movement of the starter shaft a with its clutch member 23 in the opposite direction, or from thel position in which said parts are shown in Fig. i to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 3. It-is also' desirable to enable the starter Ashaft a' and the clutch member 23 thereon to be rotated during the endwise movement of the shaft a which carries the -clutch member 23 into clutching engagement with the clutch inember 2l on the engine shaft', and even during the initialor irst part of the rotary movement of the engine shaft or clutch member 4, which occurs during or immediately fol-- lowing the .movement ofthe clutch gmember. '23 into engagement with the clutch member 2l. jects which will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to be accomplished '1n a simple and eicient manner, the shaft a is' provided with a toothed rack member or sleeve-shaped rack 25. secured in fixed relation thereto and comprising in its construcby the teeth 32 of a longitudinally movabletion a series of peripheral teeth 26 which are, by -{ireferencd' inclined outward and rearward andextend aroundthe sleeve.

See Figs. 1 to l inclusive and Fig. 7'.)A A pinion 27 is rotatably mounted in a slutor bottom rack 33.' The rack 33 is pivotally vconnect-ed with a sliding operating rod 34 by means of a pivot pin 35 mounted in said rod and extending through a suitable aper- .ture in one endz of said piyoted rack 33. A

compre'ssble spring rmgunted vin they rod vtomove with the Alatter lor'igitudinally of' mounted In order to enable this. and other ob- `members 23. and 221i to 'c tchin'genga'g a. Wthits Clutch-m mbb'r inem? 345 and inyielding-'engage'ment with the n endfof theipi'voted rack -33 serves. to hold the teeth 32- of' the latter 'yieldngly in pos'- tion to move laterally ofthe operating-rod. into and out of operative engagement with 7 0- thel teeth 31 of the pinionv 27. The. rack# operating and supporting rod 34 i's connected at one end ,with the slidingsleeve 10,-

by means of a boss 37 having a' threadedi 'aperture for receiving the. correspondil'igly .-threaded'end of the rod 34, or-by similar y"securing means. The 4rd34t, thus secured bis.

in fixed relation tothe sleeve 10,`is adaptedthe device or of. the tubular casing b.- .A

relativelyV stationary collar yor sleeve. 38 mounted, by preference, in' position to encircle the outer tubular memberor casing'- b i and rigidly secured tothe latter by means ofv threaded screws 39 -(see-Figs. 3 and '-4)' is provided with a laterally projecting portion' or boss 40 having a suitable aperture therethrough in which the rod/34 is slidably The collar 38` thus forms a .guide v for the 'rod 34 adapted to hold the latter in. such position that when the rod 34 and rackA 33 are moved fromv the position' shown in full lines in Fig.- 7 to the osition shown in Fig. 3, the teeth 32 of sai rack will engage. the teeth 31 of the pinion 27, andwhen the same movement of the rack'33 and its supporting rod 34'is continued from the position shown in Fig.' 3 to the position shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 7, such continuationV of the movement will rotate the pinion 27 thereby moving the sleeve-shaped or annular rack member 25 and the starter shaft end@A wise from the position shown in Fig. '3 to the position shown in Figs. 5l and 7 or into such position thatthe clutch member 23 on the starter shaft will be carried into clutchil 'engagement with the clutchl member 'which is fixed to the engine shaft. .A collar 40 located on the inside 'of theinner tube kf and in position to encircle the shaft a is' or in any ordinary and Well known manner (see. Figs. 3 and l), and a collar 42 which also encircles the shaft a is secured inv xed relation to the rotary inner Vtube k by means of screws 43,- or other suitable securing means, and la compressible spring 44 is mounted between and in engagement with these collars and in position to encircle the shaft on the inside of e innertubegk," It will thus be. seen that" the' endwis move?. 4. ment ot the starter shah a with itsclutch: member 23 from the` posi\\ ion shown in Fig. 1

3 to the position 'sho\ n ilr'liigsn: and 7, o'i| into a position to b'iing he main .6111151511:1."

ment, will com ross s ng l'alld. hait the latter will vave a t n n y t0 facliiw or accomplish the endw'i e'jni vementof-@ aiV i rois- 1.10 .fixed to said shaft by means of a screw 4.1, .Y

lt Will be readily understood by 30 the casing. for rotating the pawls e' 3 5 rotatably mountedon the inside ot the inner :j 40 grooves J8 which Wind around the shaft c cr 50 a. is moved endvvise in either direction or i 5 5 mits the rotation of the in an opposite 60. rigid relation to the inner tube l by means 65 cally grooved sleeve en. rll-he rotation or Yposits direction or out or operative engage l ment with the engine shaiit when the engine starts, or when .the main clutch members are released or forced apart.

skilled in the art that unlessthe sta- Y" shaft a and clutch member are caused to rotate during the movement of said clutch vmember into clutching engagement with the 1 0 clutch member on the engine shaft, there would beV more or less lost motion, before the teeth 45 would come into complete perfect clutching engagement vvithtbe or tooth-engaging portion lr6 olf the mating .clutch member 24. lt is therefore very de sirable to provide means whereby the starter shaft a and the clutch member 223 will be rotated during the endivise movement of the `vshaft c which brings the clutch member 23 clutching engagement Witi the clutch member 2d on the engine shaft, and wher v such rotary movement of the starter shaft and clutch member 2e may be continued after such endivise movement ci the shaft u, 25 is completed or during the initial .rotary movement of the engine shaft and before the movement of the sliding trame or sleeve y l0 with the inwardly projecting fingers or .pins 12 in an opposite direction endvviso of and v thereby the shaft a is begun. ln order to provide means whereby this may be accomplished in a simple-and elicient manner, an inner helically groovedsleeve or helix'fl' is tube 7c in Lposition to encircle the shaft a. between the collar 40 and the inner en'd of the shaft (see Figs. 3 and Ll), and is provided with' opposite peripheral helical sleeve 47 in a direction opposite that of the helical grooves 8 inthe larger .or main helically grooved tube Z, already described. (See Figs. l to 4 inclusive.) rlhe laterally prd jecting pins or fingers 4:9 npon and in lined relation to the rotary starter shaft a. ventend into these helical or spiral grooves. fl8 and are adapted to move longitudinallyof the grooves from end to end thereoi` as the shaft into and out of clutching position, as already described. A non-rotatable toothed ratchet prevents the rotation the helioally i grooved sleeve 47. in one direction and perdirection. This ratchet or clutch member 50 encircles the shaft a at a point between the inner helically grooved sleeve Il'-'and the collar 40 on the shaft a and is secured in of screws 5l' or other suitable securing means, (seelFigs. 3 and el) and is provided with ratchet teeth 52 adapted to engage similar ratchet teeth 53 on the inner the or helix l? `inan opposite direction to tfat which the starter shaft a is rotatec during its movement into clutching position into operative engagement with `l ait and while rotating the enlically grooved sleeve @i7 'ncction during thefmovee starter shaft a with its clutch out ot clutching position or from isition'in which the parts are shown n .r ig. -l to the position in which they are sl oivn in 7 is permitted. A compressi- 5% is interposed between the end cap or head Am and the adjacent end of the helically grooved sleeve LUso as to yieldingly hold the ratchet teeth of 'the sleeve if? in toothed engagement with the teeth of the clutch member 50, in such a manner as to permit the rotation of. the helioally grooved member il? in direction with respect to tir "hitch member 50 which is :fixed to the tubular mem It, said member als being l f ically grooved member 'Z as n set forth. 'I he free end of operating lever 1l is operatively d with a manually operable lever eans or" a connecting rod 56. One -is rod is connected With the operating lever 1l b v means of a pin 57, or other suitable connL t'ng means, and the other end is connected with the lever 55 by means of a pin 58 extending through suitable apertures in the connecting rod 56 and lever 55, respectively. The operating lever may be in the form orn a foot levery or abend lever and pivotally supported in a suitable stati'onary support or part of the frame of the motor vehicle by means of a pivot pin o() (see 8) in position to be operated by the driver. or operator from the seat 6l.

(See 8.)

lny practicethe direction of movement of herein the in -a toot lever for operating the main oper- Yor the lever 1l may be connected with Such operating means in any desirable, ordinary or well known manner. The possibility of injury to the parts of the device or to the operator by a reverse movement of the jengine vshaft resulting from back tiring is prevented by providing a yielding connection between the clutch member 23 and c, such 50rdprevented, and/the free edl by the spring a shown in Fig. 3, en-

circling the shaft a and connected at one end with a sleeve 23 which is iixed to or connected with the clutch member 23 and rota- 5 table on the shaft, the opposite end of the spring being connected with the shaft'en The spring -should be of sulicient strength tofenable the engine shaft to be rotated by the powerapplied through the medium of 1 '0 the shaft aand the spring and connected parts.

In operation, assuming the device to be 1n the position shown in Fig.l 3, the sliding frame or sleeve with the inwardly projecting vpins or lingers 12 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. During such movement the bottomftoothed rack 33 will.

be moved with the rod 34 end sleeve l0 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to th e position shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted llines in Fig. 7, therebyT rotating the toothed pinion 27 and causing the latter to move the sleeveshaped toothed rack 26 and with it the starter shaft a from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in' Fig. 4.v

During this vmovement of the starter shaft a, it will be readily seen that the laterally projecting pins 49 on the. shaft aand which 3.0 extend into the helical grooves 48 of the vsleeve 47, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, will travel along the spiral grooves 48 in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the starter 'shaft a as the latter movestoward .35. the'engine shaft or toward clutching position, although the direction of movement of the sleeve 10 and outer 'or inwardlygprojectingdingers 12, which engage grooves`9 in the inwardly projecting fingers supported thereby are shown in Fig. 4. The shaft a, is thus caused to rotate in a direction corresponding with the directionof movement of 'the laterally projecting pins 49 in the ap- 59 PrOXmately. vstationary spiral' grooves 48,

the spirali-or helical grooves 47 being held against' rotation by means of 4the clutch member 50 and the ngers 12 on the nonrotatable sliding sleeve or frame '10. The

A15. teeth l26 of. the sleeve-shaped rack member 25 Aon'the starter-shaft a being so formed' as to extend .entirely around the shaft or.V sleevefitjwill be readily seen that the aboveV mentioned rotary .movement of the shaft a '6 9 during its longitudinal movement toward clutcihingposition is permitted and' will not ,interfere with the operation of the rack 25- by means of the pinion 27 and the longitu-` d1n'1y. movable rack 33. lIt will also be rea nly that on account of the ratchet Fig. 3 .to the position shown in Fig. 4 .or

' approximately one-half of a complete revoteeth h on the starter` shaft a being of suilicient length so that they will at alltimes be in operative engagement with the pawls z', which are supported by the rotary tubularmembers la and Z, the teeth L` will Vatall .times be in position 'to bev engaged bythe paWls z', and that the pawls-i and the rotary tubular pawl-supporting members c and Z cannot move circumferentially of theshaft except when thefspirally grooved tubular member Zis beingrotated by the movement o f the helix-operating lfingers 12l longitudinally ofthe casing b with the sliding sleeve or' support 10. The lingers 12 when sta-4 tionary prevent the rotation of the helically go grooved tubular member' Z andfhold the pawls z', Aaswell as .the ratchet member or inner clutch member 50 on the, tubular member-lo, against rotation; It follows that v'the pawls z' and ratchet 'teeth 71, are in posig5 tion to prevent the Arotation of the starter shaft a in one direction or in a backward (1i-- rection and to 'cause the rotation of vthe starter shaft inthe direction in which the pawls arerotated in order .to crank the .9o engine or rotate theengine shaft in the operation of starting the engine.v The movement of the lever 11 -and'sliding f1-aineor sleeve 10 'With Athe .inwardly projecting helix-operating fingers 12 vfrom the position ee' shown in .Fig. 3 to the position 'shown in Fig. 4, as above described, will cause the starter shaft 'and the-.main clutch memberfv 23 to be moved from the position shown in into such positionv that the clutch ,members 23 and 24 are in clutchingA engagement. asabove suggested. When the parts havethus vreached the. position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the movement of the lever 11'in the opposite direction or from the position in which. Y it is shown in Fig. 4 to theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 1 will cause the inwardly projecting fingers or pins 12 to move longitudinally of the outer casing-bfrom end -to end of the corresponding slots 9v and from end to end of the helical grooves -or slots 8 in the larger l'ielically grooved tubular 4member Z, thus causing the starter shaft a to be rotatedby means of the action of the pins 12 upon the helically grooved tubular member Z in the`direction indicatedl by the arrow inlfig.v 4, thereby rotating the pawls Z and causing therotation of the engine shaft 12( lution or. to an extent4 corresponding with therelative positions of the opposite ends -of the spiral grooves 8'., The main operat-- ing lever 11 having'thus reached the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be readily seen'V that its movement in a reverse. direction from that last described or vfrom the positionshown in Fig. 1 to the vposition shown in Fig.4w illcause the rack 33 to engage and'again operate the pinion 27v and -thereby 3C y autres i l.the sleeve-shaped rack during the latter part of such movement of the lever, and

and that the clutch members will be brought f into `engagement and permitted vto become disengaged with each complete cycle or operation ofthe main operating lever, as above described.

' The movement of the starter shaftia from y lclutching position to the opposite extremity of its movement or to the position shown in Fig. 3 will cause the inner helicall grooved sleeve 47 to make apartial rotation which `is permitted ,by vthe spring at the end of said l inner .helically grooved sleeve. 'As the 30 '1., In a device for starting engines of mosleeve is rotated by the laterally projecting `pins 49 on the shaft a, and which pins eX- tend into the helical groove in said sleeve f and move with the shaft a., the spring permits the inner helix or sleeve 47 to rotate in one direction with respect to the clutch member 50 Which is lined to and adapted to rotate with the tubular members .k and Z.

vtion of the device is thus prevented.

'I claim:

' y'tor vehicles, the combination'of a rotative starter shaft, lmeans for supporting the *starter shaft, g

mechanism adapted to form a connection be- Bftween the starter shaft 'and such engine shaft, clutch an engine shaft, reciprocating operating lever mechanism, a rotary element encirclingandrota- A"tive '.with respect to the starter shaft and provided With a peripheral helical portion, means operatively connected Withvsaid operating lever mechanism and extendin into engagement with and movable longitudi nally of said helical peripheral portion of said rotary shaft-encircling element, and means for operatively connecting the rotary shaft-encircling element with the shaft.

2. In a device for. Starting engines ofmotor vehicles, the combination of ak rotative starter shaft, means for supporting the starter shaft, Yanengine shaft, connecting clutch mechanism adapted to form a connection between the starter shaft and such tending into engagement with the 'helical peripheral Aportion of said sleeve, and means' for operatively cornecting the sleeve with the starter shaft. i ln a device for starting engines of mo- A tor vehicles, the combination of a'rotative starter shaft, means for rotatably supporting the starter shaft, an engine shaft, connecting clutch mechanism adapted to form a connection between the starter shaft and such engine shaft, a main operating lever, a

rotary sleeve encircling the starter shaft and -ment of said starter shaft.

4. In a device for starting engines of nootor vehicles, the combination of a rotative starter shaft, means for supportingthe starter shaft, an engine shaft, connecting clutch mechanism adapted to form a connection between the starter shaft'and such engine shaft, operating lever mechanism supported independently of the starter shaft, a rotary sleeve encircling and rotative with respect to the starter shaft and pro` vided with a peripheral helically grooved portion, means vconnected with the lever mechanism and in engagement with the helical'ly grooved portion of saidsleeve for rotating the sleeve, and pavvl and ratchet mechanism upon and adapted to form a connection between the helically grooved' sleeve and the starter shaft.

5. In a device for starting engines for motor vehicles, the combination of a rotary shaft, an engine shaft, means for operatively sleeve-engaging mechanism connecting said shaft With suchf engine vvided With a peripheral helical groove. a

non-rotative tubular member enciriiling said sleeve and provided `with a longitudinal slot adjacent to the helically grooved portion of said rotative sleeve.' a sleeve-omvat ingmember connected with said lever and having a. sleeve-engaging poi-tion extending through the slot in the non-rotative tubular member and in engagement with4 the helical groove of said sleeve, and panl and ratchet mechanism upon and adapted to forni a con nection between said rotative helicallv grooved sleeve? and said rotative shaft.

6L ln devicefor starting engines of motor vehicles. theY comlii'iiatio'n of a rotary starter shaft, an engine shaft, means for removably connecting said shaft 'in operative engagement with such engine shaft. a main 'operating lever. a sleeve -otatively mounted.

ber connected With said lever and having a VsleeJe-engaging finger in enwe mentwvith a helical groovecfsaid `lrefr vlli.'

' m'sm u on-anl Y nection 'etween said sleeve and said rotatative sleeve,v awl, and yratchet mechaadapted to, form a4 contive starterv shaft, a non-rotative tubular member encirclin the rotative helically 4rooved sleeve an ,provided with 4longituinal slots on oppositev sides ofsaid sleeve,

-a'collar encircling the non-rotative tubular member and in supporting engagement'with said groove-engaging finger, `and guiding' mechanism extending longitudinally of and in parallel relation to the .non-rotatable tubillar member, vfor guiding said collar and l 1.7. In a device for starting engines of'motor vehicles, the combination of a rotative stajl'terl vshaft, meansfor supporting the starter shaft, an engine shaft, connecting clutch mechanism secured to and rotatable "'withf the. starter shaft and adapted to form a connection between the starter shaft` and such engine shaft, operating lever mechanism supported independentl of the starter shaft; pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating the starter shaft, a rota-ry element in supporting'` engagement vwith the paw mechanism and rotative with respect to and encircling the sta-rter shaft and provided with a peripheral helical portion, means operatively connectedvvith said operating lever mechanism and extending into engage- ,mentl with and movable longitudinally of saidv helical portion. of said rotary shaft-'en-V A circling element, for rotating the -paWl mechanism, and means for moving the starter shaft endwise into position to bring said starter shaft into operative 'connection with the engine shaft during the 'rotary movement of said starter shaft.

8. In 'a device for starting engines of motor vehicles, the combination of a rotary starter shaft, an engine shaft, a clutch member connected with the starter shaft, and

movable with thevlatter into and out ofposition to engage a'mating clutch member on such engine shaft, a main operating'lever,

i shaft-operating mechanism operatively con nected with' the main operatin lever and ivith'the starter shaft, for rota ing the latter, rack' teeth upon the starter shaft, a toothed pinion rotatively mounted in toothed engagement with said rack teeth, a

longitudinally movable toothed rack adapted to engage said, pinion, and means con'-A nected with the main operating lever, for

operating said longitudinally. movable rack, to cause endwisc movement of the starter shaft,

9. In a device for starting engines of mo tor vehicles, the combination of a rotary starter shaft, an engine shaft, a clutch mem,-

ber connected with the starter shaft and movable with the latter into and outof poh sition to engage a mating clutch member on' such engine' shaft, a main operating lever, a sleeve encircling the .shaft and provided with a helical peripheral groove, a laterally projecting pin on the shaft and extending into the helical groove, said pin being movable with the shaft and along said grooveK in a direction lengthvviseof the sleeve, means for limiting the movement of the sleeve in a of the shaftv during said endwise movement.l

10. In a devicefor'starting engines of,- the class described, the combination of a rotary starter shaft, an engine shaft, a clutch memeol ber connected Withthe starter shaft and movable with the latter intoA and out of vposition to engage a mating clutch member on such engine shaft, a main operating lever,

a sleeve encircling the shaft -and 'provided With'a helical peripheral groove, a laterally projecting pin on the shaftand extending into the helical groove, said pin -being movable with the shaft lengthwise of the sleevel and along said groove, a clutch member mounted upon a suitable support and in engagement with said sleeve,said clutchmem-A ber being adapted to limit themovement of the sleeve in one 'direction 'and permit the 'rotation of the sleeve in an opposite'v direc-v tion, means Ior yicldingly holding said sleeve' and said clutch member inengagement With each other, a series' of rack'teet'h on the shaft, apinion in toothed engagement With 'said-rack'teeth. means for ro tatably supporting said pinion, alongitudinally movable toothed rack in toothed en.

gagement with said pinion, and-rack operating mechanism connected with the longitudinally movable pinion operating rack and'vvith the' main operating lever,'for oper- V ating the 'rack and plnion mechanism to j movethe shaft longitudinally into position' to permit the engagement of the vclutch inember o'n said shaft witha mating. clutch Inem-r f ber. ,4 4

ll. In a device-for starting an. engineyof the class described,v the combination of a ro,

tary starter shaft', an engine shaft, a clutch member connected with the starter shaft and movable with the latter into and out of po'- siticn to ,engage a matingI clutchA member on such engine shaft, a'main operating lever, a sleeve encircling the shaft and provided with ahelical peripheral groove, a` laterally I projectingp'in von the shaft yand extending. lntosaid helical. groove` said 'pin being movaole with .the shaft lengthwise` of the sleeve Aand .along said groove, a clutch member mounted upon la suitable support and zinertgagement with'said sleeve,=s`aid clutch member being adapted-to limit-the movement-of.

the sleeve .in one direction-.andtofpermit the tion, means for moving the sha vrotation of the sleeve in anop osite direct longitudinally in one direction, said means being ,operatively connected with the operating lever and adapted to ermitthe rotation of the shaft 'during suc endwise movement,

andmeansfor movingl the shaftendwise in an oPpOsite direction. v r

-v meansA for Supportin endwise movement o :combination of 12. ]nl a; device for starting engines, the a' rotative starter shaft, and'permitting .the the startcr"shaft, a

cltch'member connectedwith said 'shaft and movable with' the' latter into and out of position to engage a mating,l clutch member on l enginef shaft, 'a mam operating lever,

vided with peripheral helical `tionary tubul s [with-1 longitudinal. peripheral '2 'i 1 'cally groovedatubularmember, operating *.xngerSbPr/ if atin lever f aoint ',e stationary casing' member lpavvland 'ratchet ymechanism'in operative engagement with said shaft, a rotary tubular memberencircling the shaft and in supporting vengagement with the Ipavvl mechanism, said lrotary tubular member 'being proooves, aostaer. provided grooves .adjacent to the helical grooves of the rotary heliar casing mem `'tively connected witht ve oper-Y and extending into said grooves A and into the 'corresponding helical grooves in the 'ro-` y't'ai'y-v helically grooved "member,means vfor limitm` the endwise movement of the rotary- Ahec member, and means for supporting the main pawl supporting operating lever.

13. In a device for 'ffcombination of a rotative starter fsbaft,

vvmoving the starter shaft /member and into the correspond' ,grooves of therotary ally, grooved starting" engines the means for supporting the starter shaft, -main operating lever,

means operatively connected with the mam operating lever for rection and ada ted to movement of sald shaft 1n an opposite d irection, a clutchmember connected with 45 said shaft and movable with the latter into Aand out of position to engage a 'matin-g clutch member on an engine shaft, pavvl vand ratchet mechanism in operative'engagement with said shaft, a rotary tubular member mounted in suitable bearings in position to encircle the shaft, and in su portingengagement'. with the pawl mec as my invention I ailix my signature in the presence ofl two witnesses, this' lthday of July, A. D. 1913.

'Y Witnesses: WIILIAM Bacone, vHARVEY E; Kars.

40 endvvise in onedipermit the endwlse..

anism, and `provided .Withperipheral helical grooves, a

a 'non #rotatable sliding 60 A helical SIDNEY a? MYERS. 

